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The Lakers star knew his monumental run of scoring in double figures was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision meant distributing the basketball – and he executed. With that selfless act, his remarkable run finished.

James's astounding run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended during a recent game, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James said in response regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Play Delivers the Win

James could have sought to clinch the contest – and preserved his record – on the final possession, but he chose to dish the ball to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James raised his arms triumphantly.

“Just playing basketball correctly. Always make the smart play,” James explained. “That’s just been how I operate. That’s how I was taught the game. I’ve done that for two decades.”

He is fully cognizant exactly how many points he has at any point,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Streak's End Game

LeBron checked back into the game one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the win along with the historic run on the line. At that stage, he had six points on a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to tie the game but then missed a shot with one minute to go that would have taken him to double digits.

He didn’t take one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate passed him the ball as time wound down, however, James decided to make the pass instead.

“The basketball gods, when you play it the proper way, they tend to bless you,” Redick added.

The History of a Monumental Streak

This incredible run began on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the most extended streak of its kind the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded with 575.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and just who he is as an individual, he made the pass, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Reaching double digits had typically been an afterthought long before the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had achieved ten points entering the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

But two such single-digit games through three quarters took place just days before: He had nine going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, and then had six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to keep the streak alive against the Suns. In the following contest, it finished – but he still rejoiced regardless.

My focus is to make the best play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James affirmed. If you make the right play, the sports deities forever rewarding me.”